Electric timeswitch



March 9, 1943. N. MUNTHESEN ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH F ig. 2.

Filed April 17, 1940 L .IL lul 1 z INVENTOR= NELAS MUNTHEEN .BYM ATTORNEY Patented Maro 9,. 1943 ELECTRIC TMESWHTCH Niels Munthesen, Copenhagen, Denmark; tested in the Alien Property Custodian Application April 17, 1940, Serial No. %30,072 In Denmark May 4, 1939 (Ci. %ll-35) l 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to an electric time switch of the kind that has a coupling member inserted between the push button itself and the retarding member of the switch, the said coupling member breaking the co-operation of the push button with the retarding member during the depression of the button for closing the circuit.

The present invention has for its object to provide a, coupling member that on the one hand is simple to manufacture and, on the other hand, make possible a continuous variation of the length of the current-closure period without necessitating the use of special levers. According to the invention, the coupling member consists o'f a helical spring loosely disposed in such manner around a drum that during the depress'on of the push-button the spring will slide on the drum surface with expanded windings, while by its return motion during the current-closure pea riod it will contract itself around the drum and thus couple the switch and the push-button together.

Other characteristic features of the invention are further described in the following, in connection with a Construction of the invention shown on the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of a time switch,

Fig. 2 the same in side elevation,

Fig. 3 a horizontal section of the same,

Fig. 4 the parts of the switch that are espe cially comprised by the invention, in side elevation and on a larger scale, and

Fig. 5 the same parts, in end elevaticn.

The time switch contains an electric tumbler mechanism consisting of two rotatably inter connected levers 2 and l8 between which a spring 20 is tensed which makes certain that the switch can only occupy either one of its two extreme po sltions one of which (the breaking position) is shown on the drawing. In the current-closing position the lever 2 is moved into the space between the live contact springs 3.

The reverse! of the tumbler mechanism is efv Iected by a longitudinal motion of a forked member ZI engaging a roller IS on an arm l'l which is rigidly connected to the lever !8 `pivoted about a pin !9.

The bifurcated member 2I supports a plate H into which a threaded pin !0 is screwed while the latter is introduced into an internal cavity IS in the push-button I of the switch. When the push-button l is depressed while overcoming the force of a helica spring M which is disposed so as to encircle a guide pin !3, the tumbler mechanism will enter into its current-closing position during' the last part of the motion of the push-button, and when subsequently the button is released, it will be forced by the spring 14 to return to its initial position. During the last part of the return motion of the push-button, the tumbler mechanism :changes back to the breaking position.

While the depression of the push-button must be able to be efiected quickly, without any considerable resistance, the return motion of the push-button is retarded under the influence of the spring i@ by means of an escapement of which merely a pair of representative gear wheels 22 are shown on the drawing. An escapement with a balance wheel is well suited for the present purpose in consequence of the small space occupied by this retarding device.

In order to secure the desired functioning of the time switch there is inserted, between the push-button l and the gear wheel 22 of the escapement, a coupling member which in the switch shown consists of a drum 4 attachecl to the shaft 23 of the gear wheels 22, which shaft, is encircled by a helical spring 5, one end of which is free, while the other end is attached to an arm 6 pivoted to the drum. By means of a pin or the like ti the said arm is pivotally connected to an in tennediate rod '1, one end of which is inserted into the cavity of the push-button l, and is tted with an eye 9 by means of which it engages the threaded pin !0. The threaded pin may further be attached in the bottom end of the push-button, it being merely necessary in any of the various possible constructions to take care that the free end of the intermediate rod can move freely along the threaded pin. On to the end of the latter there is screwed a stopping nut |2 which latter, when the push-button and thus the plate Il are depressed, after a short dead stroke motion, will press against the eye 9 of the intermediate rod '1, in consequence of which the arm 6 in Fig. 4 will be turned slightly in a counterclockwise direction. During this rotation the windings of the spring 5 will expand slightly, in such manner that they slide loosely along the surface of the drum 4.

When subsequently the push-button l is released, the spring i i will tend to press the button and the plate ii back to the initial position, and thus also the arm 6 will have a tendency to 'ne returned to the Initial position. consequently, however, the windings of the spring 5 will con` tract themselves about the drum 4 and will take the same along in rotary movement, and the result will be that the escapement is set into motion and by coming into action effectively retards the return motion of the push-button l for a suitable period corresponding mainly to the length of the current-closure period.

The distance through which the push-button is depressed every time is constant, but the length of the current-closure period can be adjusted by a continuous variation of the angle through which the arm 6 is rotated, relatively to the drum 43, during the depression of the push-button. This adjustment is effected by the rotation and consequent adjustment of.the stopping nut I! by means oi' which the length of the dead strol'ce motion of the push-button, before it takes the intermediate rod 'I along during the depression, can be varied.

Having now described invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric time switch having coupiing means serving to interrupt cooperation ot an escapement controlllng the duration of closure of said switch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depressionr ot the 'latter in order to close said switch, said coupling means includi ing a drum rigid with a drive shaft of "said escapement by which to drive the lattr,-. a coupling member comprising a one way :clutch member capable of engaging with said in one direction of rotation and running free in the other direction, connecting means !or communicating partial rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in whichit runs free during depression of said push button, and return means for returning said push button and said clutch, said one way clutch member comprising a spring coiled about the drum with one end free and the other end engaged by the connecting means.

2. An electric time switch having coupling means serving to interrupt cooperation ot an escapement controlling the duration of closure oi saidswitch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depression of the latter in order to close said switch, said coupllng means including a drum rigid with a drive shaft of said escapement by which to drive the latter, a coupling member comprising a one way clutch member capable of engaging with 'said drum in one direction of rotation and running free in the other direction, connecting means for communicating partia rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in which it runs free during depression :i said push button, and return means for returning said push button and said clutch, the connecting means comprising an arm loosely mounted on the drum and directly connected to the clutch member, a member movably disposed beneath the push button so as to be depressible therewith, and means connecting said movably disposed member with the arm to cause partial rotation of the latter upon depression', of said member by said push button.

3. An electric time switch means serving to interrupt cooperation of an escapement controliing the duration of closure of said switch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depression of the latter in order to close said switch, said coupling means including a drum rigid with a drive shat oi said escapement by which to drive the latter, a coupling member comprising a one way clutch member capable of engaging with said drum-in one direction of rotation and running tree in the direction, connecting means other for communlcat'ng 15 having coupling partia rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in which it runs free during depression of said push button, and return means for returning said push button and said clutch, the one way clutch member comprising a spring coiled about the drum with one end free and the other end engaged by the connecting means, and the connecting means comprising an arm loosely mounted on the drum and directly connected to the clutch member, a member movably disposed beneath the push button so as to be depressible therewith, and means connecting said movably disposed member with the arm to cause partial rotation of the latter upon depression of said member by said push button.

4. An electric time switch having coupling means serving to interrupt cooperation of an escapement controlling the duration of closure of said switch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depression of the latter in order to close said switch, said coupling means including a drum rigid with a drive shat of said escapement by which to drive the latter, a coupling member comprising a one way clutch member capable of engaging with said drum in one direction of rotation and running free in the other direction, ccnnecting means for communicating partia rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in which it runs free during depression of said push button, and return means for returning said push button and said clutch, the connecting means comprising an arm loosely mounted on the drum and directly connected to the clutch member, a member movably disposed beneath the push button so as to be depressible therewith, 'and means connecting said movably disposed member with the arm to cause partial rotation of the latter upon depression of said member by said push button, said last means including a connecting rod having a portion extending up into a hollow interior oi the push button, but spaced from the interior oi the upper 7 end of said push button so as to allow for a short dead stroke of the button during which the button is out of contact with said portion associated with the connecting rod and said rod and the arm connected thereto remain stationary.

5. An electric time switch having coupling means serving to interrupt cooperation o! an escapement controlling the duration of'closure of said switch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depression of the latter in order to close said switch, said coupling means including a drum rigid with a drive shaft of said escapement by which to drive the latter, a coupling member comprising a one way clutch member' capable of engaging with said drum in one direction of rotation and running free in the other direction, connecting means for communicating partia rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in which it runs free during depression of said push button, and return means tor returning said push button and said clutch, the connecting means comprising an arm looseiy mounted on the drum and directly connected to the clutch member, a member movably disposed beneath the push button so as to be depressible therewith, and means connecting said movably disposed member with the arm to cause partial rotation of the latter upon depression of said member by said push button, said last means including a connecting rod having a portion extending up into a hollow interior o! the push button, but spaced from the interior o! the upper end ot said push button so as to allow !or a 6. An electric time switch having coupling means serving to interrupt cooperation of an escapement controliing the duration of closure of said switch, with a resiliently depressible push button during depression of the latter in order to close said switch, said coupling means including a drum rigid with a drive shaft ot said escapement by which' to drive the latter, a coupling member comprising a one way clutch member capable of engaging with said drum in one direction of rotation and running free in the other direction. connecting means !or communicating partia! rotation to said clutch member in the one direction in which it runs free during depression of said push button, and return means for returning said push button and said clutch.

the connecting means comprising an arm looseiy mounted on the drum and directly connected to the clutch member, a member movably disposed beneath the push button so as to be depressible therewith, and means connecting said movabiy disposed member with the arm to cause partial rotation of the Iatter upon depression of said member by said push button, 'said connecting means including a threaded member extending up to a portion oi' the push button and having thereon an adjusting nut, and a. connecting rod connected to the arm on the drum and having an apertured portion extendjng between said threaded member and the movable disposed member beneath the push .button so that depression of the push button will cause said threaded member to project through an aperture in said apertured portion and bring the adjusting nut into contact with said apertured portion and cause the contact of the nut therewith to move the connecting rod and partly rotate the arm.

NIELS MUNTHESEN. 

